Switching mechanism.



D D. GORDON.

SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION SHED 553.2.1911

1,1 90,888. Patented July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

D. D. GORDON.

SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED ma. z. 1915.

1 ,1 90,888. Patented July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7% aadfjfiardaw W w W W w "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID D. GORDON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE YOST ELECTRIC MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF Specification of Letters Patent.

SWITCHING MECHANISM. 1

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed February 2, 1915. Serial No. 5,729.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID D. GORDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Switching Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise. and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of; this specification.

My invention relates to switching mechauism'and has for its object the provision of a simplified switching mechanism adapted to give a quick make and break between switching terminals for an electric circuit.

The structure of my invention can be confined within very small space, is readily operable by means of a rotatable element, although of course not so limited, and for this reason lends itself particularly well for instance to serve as the switching mechanism for sockets. In' explaining my invention in this application I am setting itforth more in detail as applied to a socket.

I show in connection with the accompanying drawings two embodiments which my invention may take in its application to sockets.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a socket constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view onl line aa of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the fingerhold and crank; Fig. l is a sectional view on line Z)b of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view-of the switch element; Fig.6 is a sectional view on line 11-03 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectional'view siinilar'to that of. Fig. 6 showing a modified form, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line e..e of Fig. 7

My improveddevice as set forth in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 1, 5 and 6 is shown in connection. with a socket having the a-nnular contact element 1 and the central contact 2. The annular contact element 1 is preferably connected through the agency of a stud 3 and nut 4 with an incoming conductor '5. The incoming conductor 6- as shown more clearly in Fig. 6, is connected by means of. a stud 7 with a stationary spring 8 and the central contact 2 is in direct electrical association with a second stationary switch spring 9. The circuit is to be completedbetween the elements 8 and 9 and this is done by a movable switch element 10 having the legs 11 and 12, which switch element 10 is pivoted upon a stud 13 mounted in the insulating portion 14 of the socket. The switch element 10 is to be moved periodically into its circuit opening or closing position by snap action through the agency of a crank 15 which is under the control of aknob or fingerhold 16. The knob 16 is. rotatable in either direction of rotation and has a sleeve 17 into which the crank 15 projects, this crank 15 having at that portion 18 thereof which projects into the sleeve 17 a cut away is designed to cooperatewith a suitable recess within the arm 11 which recess consists of a substantially circular portion 21 and a second substantially circular .portion '22 united by a narrow passage-23. The distorted section 20 of the crank can only pass through the narrow passage .23 when the sides of this portion 20 are substantially parallel to the sides of the'narrow passage 23. It will be understood of course that the section 20 is of such a size that it may be accommodated upon rotation very jreadily within either of the portions -21 ,or 2 2 of the recess within the arm 11. It will be appar.- ent from this that the switch element 10 can move .from the full to the dotted position of Fig. 1 or. vice yersa only 'Ywhenthere portion which is adapted to cooperate with ing extremity 27' impinging also against the bridge portion, but on the opposite side of the: stud 13.

Now it will be apparent of course that if the parts are in the position shownin Fig. l, the spring 21 being held downwardly by the crank 15, that then the extremity 26 of the spring 24 holds the switch element 10 into engagement with the switching springs 8 and 9. Assuming now that it isdesired to move the switch element 10 from the full position of Fig. 1 to the dotted position of Fig. 1 when the circuit through the wise direction about its pivot 13. This tendency to rotate said element '10 increases as the crank 1s being rotated and continues until such a time as there is ahnement between the element 20 and the slot 23. At

this time the spring 25 is free to exert its pressure to rotate the element 10 by snapaction into the position shownby the dotted lines in Fig, 1. As the element 10 is pivoted the slot 23 of course would tend to slightly rotate the crank 15 as the arm 11 moves from its full to its dotted position, but this is done readily and cannot be prevented bythe operator because there is the lost motion connection between the sleeve 17 and the stem 18 as previously explained. Thus the circuit through the elements 8 and 9 is opened by snap action. Similarly the circuit through these elements 8 and 9 can be closed by snap action, if the crank 15 is again rotated in either direction of rotation.

Referring more particularly to Figs. '7 and 8, I show a modified form in which the knob; and crank retain substantially their characteristics but in which the switch element10 is pivoted upon an axis at right angles to the axis of the crank. The springs 24 and 25 are similarly mounted upon the stud 13, but these springs have converging extremities 28 and 29 which run parallel to each other and are on opposite sides of the crank 15. The restricted portion 20 of the crank again coiiperates with a slotted portion 30 of the element 10, which slotted portion has substantially the slot provided for the arm 11 in the device shown in Fig. 1. It will be seen from this that the device is very flexible in that it can accommodate itself to various structures so that the manual ar-tuating device mayact upon it from liiier nt positions and still maintain the same simplicity of structure and small num- 1 1. An electric switch mechanism having a rotatable control part, a pivoted switch piece shlftable across the axis 0t rotation of said partfrom one side to the other thereof,

theaxis of'said control part being substantially at right angles 'to the axis of said piece, a yielding connection between said part and piece, said connection effecting a snap action movement of said piece when .the control part is rotated in either direction, and meanscontrolled both by said part and said piece to at times prevent -movement of said piece.

2. An electric switch mechanism having a rotatable control part, a pivoted switch piece shiftable across the. axis of rotation of said part from one side to the other thereof, the axis of said control part being substantially at right angles to the axis of said piece, a yielding connection between said part and piece, said connection effecting a snap action shifting movementof said piece when the controlpart is rotated, and means.

controlled both by said part and ,said piece to at times prevent movement of said piece.

3. A- switch'mov-ement having a rotatable controhpart, a movable switch piece, a pair of springs interposed between said part and piece whereby upon rotation of said controlv part in either direction of rotation motion is transmitted from said part to-said. piece to move it from either one of its limiting positions' to the other by snap action, said springs being mounted intermediate their ends, one end of each spring abutting said piece, and the other end of each spring engaging said part,-and means controlled by said part to at times prevent movement of said-piece, said means includingrelatively movable interlocking elements. v

4. A switch movement having a rotatable control part, a pivoted switch piece, a pair of springs interposed between said part and piece whereby upon rotation of said control 7 said piece. i

5. A switch movementhavi ng airotatable control part, a movable switch piece, a pair of springs interposedlbetween said part and;

partin either direction of rotation motion I piece whereby upon rotation of said control part in either direction of rotation motion is transmitted from said part to said piece to move it from either one of its limiting positions to the other by snap action, said springs being mounted intermediate their ends, one end of each spring opposingly abutting said piece, and the other end of each spring opposingly engaging said part, and means controlled by-said part to at times prevent movement of said piece, said means including relatively movable interlocking elements.

(5. A switch movement having a rotatable control part, a pivoted switch piece, a pair of springs interposed between said part and piece whereby upon rotation of said control part in either direction of rotation motion is transmitted from said part to said piece, to move it from either one of its limiting positions to the other by snap action, said springs being mounted intermediate their ends, one end of each spring opposingly abutting said piece, and the other end of each spring opposingly engaging said part, and means controlled by said part to at times prevent movement of said piece.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of December A. 1).,

DAVID D. GORDON. Witnesses:

HAZEL A. JONES, MAX W. DABEL. 

